Structural member



March 31, 1931. H, |5' ElCHNER 1,798,197

STRUCTURAL MEMBER Filed March 30, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l l /l/ fi @Z 26 61 JZ Z8 March 31, 1931. H, El E|CHNER 1,798,197

STRUCTURAL MEMBER Filed March 30, 1929 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l r l l l l l g March 3l, 1931. H. E. EICHNER 1,798,197

STRUCTURAL MEMBE R l Filed March 50, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Maro @El STRUCTURAL MEMBER Application filed larcli 30, 1929. Serial No. 351,419.

My invention relates to walls and floors and to structural members for use in walls and floors, either or both. v

A purpose of my invention is to provide all-metal composite structural members such as wall studs, o'or joistsrbeams and the like that present, each of them, one or more strip surfaces along which the member is adapted to be edectively nailed.

A further purpose is to include strips or' resilient metal iiller adaptedto receive and eectively hold nails vbetween metal side members adapted to give the composite member the desired stiuess7 strength and outside structural dimensions.

A further purpose is to providea desirable form of all-metal filler for use between side members of composite studs, floor joists, beams or the like. c

A further purpose is to make an all-metal composite stud or the like present a strip nailing surface of considerable width along one or more of its sides.

A further purpose is to make structural members for walls and oors or the like such as studs and joists present toward one ane other intermediate their width along their length lateral projections for seat-ing and supporting opposite sides of a sheet ofinsulation material to be placed intermediate the wall surfaces upon opposite sides of the studs or floor and ceilin surfaces upon opposite sides of joist in order to make the wall or floor more resistant tothe passage of heat and sound.

A further purpose is to make structuraly 'studs and joists and the like with perforations at each end and preferably at spaced intervals along their lengths for adaptation to pass piping and electric conduits.

A further purpose is to clamp structural side members upon intermediate metal nailing filler material by Hap portions of the side members bent inwardly from one member to pass through a suitable perforation in the other member and clinched upon the other member.

- A furtherpurposeis to provide a form of composite studs that are particularly well adapted to use in holding forms for concrete walls, the studs being left in place after the walls have been formed. while the intermediate' wall portions of the forms are removed for use elsewhere. v

A further purpose is to provide a desirable form of thin back plastered partition Further purposes will appear in the speciiication and in the claims. y

l have electedto illustrate a few only of the dierent forms of my inventiom selecting forms that are practical and efficient in oper" ation and which well illustrate the principles involved. i Y

Figure l is a fragmentary broken horizon- ,tal section through a portion of dwelling structurejembodying diderent features of my invention, the View being to considerable ex# tent diagrammatic and showing at one portion stud members at diderent stages of the building operation. y

Figure 2 is a fragmentary broken vertical sectional view of structure shown in Figure l.

Figure -3 is an enlarged fragment corresponding to a portionof Figure 1 but showing `a different form of all-metal furring strip from that shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragment of Fig- Figures 5 and 6 are setional views through slightly different forms of all-metal filler for use between structural members to aHord nailing surface upon the sides of these members. v c

Figure 7 is a. side view of structure shown in Figure 6. v

Figures 8 and 9 are sectional views illustrating slightly 'different forms of metallic filler adapted to receive and hold nails.

Figure 10 -is a fragmentary perspective view showing a composite stud embodying 'one form of one feature of my invention.

Figure 1l is a horizontal section through a wall adjacent a window showing a desirable composite stud Structure for use at a window.

Figure 12 is a fra mentary section through a wall showing anotv er composite stud memupon the line 16-16 of Figure 15.

y:.30 tion to use -in dwelling houses, and is'also ber for use at joints between metal lath and provided with spaced'strip surfaces for the adjoining sides of adjacent metallath.

Figure 13 is a view to reduced scale through a walladj acent a windowand showsthe application of the three forms of studs illustrated in Figures 10, 11 and 12.

Figure 14 is an enlarged fragment of Figure2.

Figure 15 is ure 1.

Figure 16 is a fragmentary section takenan enlarged fragment of Fig- Figure 17 is a fragmentary vertical section taken upon the line 17--17 of Figure 14.

Like numerals referto like parts in all. figures.

vDescribing in illustration andnot in limitation and referring to the drawings My invention is directed to providing desirable forms of inexpensive fireproof floor and wall structures with particular adaptadirected to providing all-metal composite' building members such as studding, floor joists and beams that will be wholly fire-` proof, that will present comparatively wide' nailing surfaces along their lengths and that will be easy and inexpensive to manufacor the -like ofthe inner wall, the all-metal ture. One of the important detail invention is directed to the form of all-metal 'filler which I insert between the side pieces studs presenting outwardly relatively wide nailing surfaces along their lengths Still other advantageous detail features include forming the composite studs, floor j oists and the like so that they have an easy adaptation to lpass water and gas piping and electric conduits; and in providing` a novel connection between wallsand floors that makes it very easy to instally and to effectively sup port the floor joists. i i

' The side pieces for my all-metal composite structural frame members are made light or heavy and of variant sectional contour ac- 'features of my cording to circumstance and their service duties.

When my all-metal composite members are to serve aswall studs or furring strips I prefer to make the side pieces of each composite member of fairly light sheet. metal,

rolled or pressed cold to form, while if the composite members areto stand heavy duty such as is normally the case when the members are to be used as'iloor joists or beams I prefer to make the side pieces of each member yof hot rolled channels or the like.

In either case I usually prefer to provide the side pieces with longitudinal laterally outwardly projecting beads or flanges intermediate the widths of the side pieces.

These projections or flanges on each piece are adapted to seat one side of an insulation sheet placed between successive composite st uds or joists intermediate the widths of the composite member.

IA insert these intermediate sheets for purposes of heat and sound insulation, either'or both. f l

In vFigures 1 and 2 I show a fragmentary portion of a dwelling frame structure in which'are embodied anumber of the different advantageous features of my invention.

The inside of an outside concrete wall 20, is shown furred by the vertical 'furring strips 21 which may be all alike and constructed as composite members like the stud 22 of .Figure 15.

The composite i furring` studs comprise. strengthening and stilfening side pieces-24' and 25, a nailing iller 26 compressed between 'the side pieces and ties fastening the side pieces together upon the compressed filler.

The filler' material intermediate the side pieces is preferably of lconsiderable thickness' so that the nailing surfaces presented along opposingyfaces of the composite studs are of. considerable width.

The side pieces 24 and 25 are desirably usually counterpart cold rolled sheet metal channels held together upon the intermediate filler in any suitable way.

The`application `of the furring strips as a permanent part of the inside wall of the form for use in makin@ the concrete wall is illustrated in Figure I at the studs 27.

rIhe studs, as shown .at 27 are set up with the nails or spikes 28 projecting into the space that is to be occupied by the concrete walland are fastenedin any suitable way, not shown, in the position'they are tofinally occupy.

Portions of the form wall intermediate the studs are shown as comprising boards .29 which are placed to overlap the inside flanges of the successive studs and are held from moving outwardly by suitable fastening members 30 blocking the space between the boards 29 and the overlapping outside flanges 31 of the respective studs. The fastening blocks 30 conveniently comprise narrow wooden cleats loosely nailed to the boards 29.

rlhe outside wall of the form has not been shown in that it may be made in any suitable and usual way.

After the concrete has been poured and has suitably hardened the fastening cleats 30 are taken out after which the board portions 29 of the form lift away leaving the studs with the projecting nails embedded in the concrete.

The furring studs may carry intermediate their inside and outside faces sheets 32 of heat and sound insulating. material and at their inside faces receive metal lath 33 which is nailed to place, the nails being received and held by the compressed openwork filler intermediate the side pieces of each stud.

' At each loor level in the wall along the ends of the floor joists I place a horizontal 'l' member 35 preferably a composite member.

l place the body portion of the T intermediate the studs on portions of the building respectively above and below the floor so that the body portion 36 of the T member provides a cap for the top ends of the lower studs and a base for the bottom ends of the upper studs, preferably placing the upper and lower studs in line and using common bolts or rivets 37 to fasten the bottom flanges 38 of the upper studs and top flanges 39 of the lower studs together upon the body por- ,-tion 36 of the T member. i

l. place the cross portion l0 of the T, which preferablyhas-a width substantially the same as the depth of the ioor joists, vertical and in position to receive the ends of` the ioor joists and fasten the iioor joists to this vertical portion of the 'T in any suitable way, preferably by rivets or bolts al.,

I prefer to make the T member composite so it comprises upper and lower angles l2 and L3 having flat portions, face to face erm the body of the T and the side porextending respectively upwardly and wsrdly te form the cross portion of sirably i provide an outwardly directed ong the bottom of the cross the ri.

7ige rec-eiv es and supports the ends noor joists e5 making it very easy to erect the joists and if desired, bottoni hces i6 of the tio-or joists'may be fastened to this inwardly extending 'flange of the enber.

c f e Hdross portion of the anged at le to support the inner ends loer joists. y

ester 3e is shown covering the metal lath. i .e cross portion 40 of the T member, prefera comprising the upwardly and down- .Mny sides of upper and lower angles has a total vertical width about equal to the depth of the oor joists 45.

The ends of the joists abut against the vertical face of the T member to which they are preferably bolted or riveted through laterally extending end flanges' 48 of the oists.

One of theimportant detail features of my invention covers the use of an all-metal structural member comprising stiffening and strengthening sideA pieces and intermediate openwork resilient filler compressed between the side pieces, preferably of considerable width, and adapted to receive and hold nails.

In view of the fact that the filler may be of different forms any one of which may be preferable under certain conditions, I have shown the filler conventionally in the diEerent composite structural members, and have illustrated in Figures 5 to 9 a few of the many different forms of filler that may be used.

Broadly the filler comprises an openwork metallic structure adapted to be resiliently compressed between suitable side pieces and to present when/thus compressed an openwork edge that will receive and hold nails.

In the form of Figures 5 to 7 the filler comprises a succession of metal sheets 49 that present surfaces made up of lateral puncturing distortions extending in one direction interspersed with similar puncturing distortions extendng laterally in the opposite direction, the puncturing distortions comprising laterally extending flaps bent alternately in opposite directions.

In Figure 6 the ller material comprises a pile made up exclusively of these distorted sheets while in Figure 5 ll show that the sheets having the puncturing distortions may advantageously alternate with Hat sheets 50 of equal width, theV flat sheets 50 preventing any nesting of the projections of one sheet with the cavities of an adjacent sheet.

ln the forms of Figures 5 and 6 metal sheets are deformed bythe use of puncturing distortions. These comprise flaps 5l bending laterally in one direction alternating with flaps 52 bending laterally in the other direction, the fiaps maintaining connection with the sheet along ene side only of the and the punctnrinfr being in the nature of shearings along the fronts sides of the naps, Flhe deformations may take many forms,

` igure 3 l show a form in. which puncturing distortions 53 interspersed oppcsitely este ytifns obtained by sending the sti ps een suitable serrated rolls in which rovi 1ed with ser-= rations and cav. s respectively register with corresponding cavities and serrations of the other i in composite filler com prises a pile sheets which the strips 5% having the puncturing distortions may desin' Cri avoid undue nesting between the serrations and cavities of adjacent sheets.

In the form shown in Figure 9 the filler comprises corrugated sheets that alternate with the flat sheets 50, the corrugated sheets being preferably adjacent the structural side pieces of the .composite member `and separated from one another by the flat strips.

In all of these forms a nail enters the filler by resiliently straining and distorting an openwork structure that yields resiliently to the forcible entry of the nail and that vresiliently grips and holds the nails after they have been driven in.

The filler should preferably have considerable width so that an erecting workman does not need to make any close measuring in order to locate the proper position for nailing and when made as described the composite memberis adapted to receive nails almost equally well across thewhole width of the filler.

The composite structural members whether studs or joists are preferably provided with longitudinal laterally extending beads or projections 56 for receiving and seating the intermediate sheets 32 of heat and sound ini sulating material.

These seats may comprise grooves or spaced flanges rolled upon the structural side pieces of the composite members as best seen in Figures 15 andk 17, either cold rolled or hot rolled when forming the side pieces.

The sheets 32 of insulation material are pushed to place after the joists or studs have been erected so that the sides of the sheets are received in the opposing grooves presented by the successive structural members, joists or studs, at 57 in Figures 1 and 14 to The longitudinal seats 56 are shown half way between opposite sides of the studs and joists. In certain cases however it may be preferable to place these seats somewhat to one side of the middle of the space between opposing nailing sides of the studs or joists in order to provide more ample space for piping and conduit along one side of thel sheet insulation.

I preferably provide the structural members with perforations 58 in order to more eiadily pass electric conduits, piping and the I show these perforations at each end of the stud members and also at each end of the joist members and may or may not provide them at spaced intervals intermediate the length of the members.

Both the studs and joists are preferably flanged laterally at the ends immediately adjacent the transverse opening 58 for adaption to pass the conduits and piping. These anges are shown at 38 and 39 on the studs and at 48 on the Hoor joists.

. In many cases it may be preferable to cut the sheet 32 away to give passage to the piping of electrical conduit and it is preferable to install this piping and conduit at the same time that the studs and joists are installed.

The insulation sheets may bend to one side of such pipe or conduit or may be cut away to engage the side of the pipe or conduit as preferred.

I preferably provide the end iianges of the studs and joists with suitable perforations 59 for nails or bolts, either or both according to the preference of the builder.

At the vertical Wall corners I place studs 60 and 61 in the two walls adjacent one another at their inner sides and connect the outside portions of these studs together by a suitable angle member 62.

This provides an open passage 63 intermediate the inside faces of the angle 62 and the inside faces of the adjacent stud members and this passage provides convenient room for piping and electric conduits.

The outwardlypresented faces of the composite studs and joists present relatively wide str ilps that are adapted to receive and hold nai s.

I may nail'plaster board directly to the under side of t-he floor joists as indicated at 64 Figure 2 or may nail metal lath to the under side of the floor joists as shown at 65 and then cover the metal lath with plaster 34. The same is true with respect tothe vertical studs which may preferably be covered first with metal lath 33 and then coated with plaster 34 or where desired may receive the plaster board without the lath as indicated at 66 Figures 4 and 16.

Where the partitions are to be very thin I prefer to use composite structural members comprising light angles 67, Figure 1, that are ,fastened together in any suitable way upon `the intermediate openwork metal filler 26.

These angles may have sides of perhaps only three-quarter inch or less. They are set vertical along the desired wall line and on one side receive metal lath 69 which is plastered at 68 upon the outside, the plaster penetrating and covering to a considerable depth the reverse side of the metal lath.

After the plaster hardens the other side of the wall is back plastered at 70 covering the angles 67, and the result is a very satisfactory though very thin wall that is particularly well adapted for use in making closets, booths and the like.

I` may widely vary the character of the composite structural members to accommodate different service conditions and show in Figures 11 to 13 two out of the man special forms of composite studs that may be used to advantage.

In Figure 11 I show a special all-metal composite stud member 71 for use adjacent a window. The composite member 7l has a amare? wall portion 72 that is generally similar to the wall studs 22 already described rThis portion serves as the end wall stud and presents nailing surfaces to receive the metal lath 7 3 and 74 upon opposite sides of the wall. s On top of the lath are shown the plaster stop members 7 5 and 76 held to place by nails 7 7 ln order to provide nailing surfaces for the window frame member 78 l extend the outer flanges of one of the channel members at 79 and 80 and insert my openworlr allmetal iiller between the inner sides oi these anges and plate members 8l and 82, compressing the iiller against the flanges by suitable tie members 83 between the danges and the plates.

lFreierably the plaster stop members 75 and 7 6, the window trim members 849; and 85 and the door frame member 78 are all oi metal so that the window or door may loe wholly lireprooii.

The special compositev stud member '86 shown in Figures l2 and 13 provides spaced nailing surfaces at 87 that malre it much more easy to nail up the sheets ott metal lath and that stitfen the wall at the joints between the lath which is sometimes desirable.

As illustrated in. Figures l and ld l may provide the wall Jframes with base and cap members 88 and 89 respectively.,

As illustrated these include all-metal composite members having a generally rectangular sectional contour of width to present nailing surfaces to the metal'lath or plaster board along the iloor and ceiling respectively intermediate the studs.

rlhese members may be made up wholly ci 40 the distorted sheet metal strips used tor ller,

the sheets being compressed together and perforated vertically to provide nail holes and held together in compressed position by suitable tubular rivets or otherwise,"or may include upper and lower plate members and the intermediate strips of compressed ller p material as already described, the section bef ingpermissibly similar to that oi the studs 22 except that the flanges extending outwards 5o ly -lrom the nailing surfaces are omitted.

ll/ly construction is suited to use in various walls whether horizontal or vertical including floors, ceilings and side walls and wherever 1 this meaning can reasonably be given to it wall or walls is or are to be interpreted in this way in my claims,

llt will be evident that my cushioning material permits insertion of nails or screws not xonly in any angular position within a plane 6@ or planes parallel to the faces of the metal between which my filler is secured, but that nails and screws may be driven at an angle to such parallel planes.

'lt will be further evident that my ller ma= 1 65 terial is not dependent for its success upon the relation between the curvature ol some corrugation and the diameter of av nail or a screw `intended to be inserted but that nails and screws of various -sizes can be driven within one of my fillers and nails and screws become evident to others skilled in the art, to

obtain all or part of the benefits ot my invention without copying the structure shown, and l, therefore, claim all such in so tar as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my invention.

YHaving thus described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

la An all-metal composite structural member including a spaced pairl of metal side members, one of them a structural member, 'openwo-rk resilient metal ller comprising deformed plates of considerable composite thickness compressed between the side members and ties between the side members holding them to positiona so that they compress the filler, the ller presenting an outwardly directed strip nailing surface of considerable width intermediate the side members` 2u An all-metal composite structural member' including a members, one ot t em a structural member, an openwork resilient Vmetal iller comprising deformed and :dat plates of considerable com posite thickness compreossed between the side members and ties between the side members aced pair of metal side a lll@ holding them to positionv so that they comf press the filler, the ller presenting an out wardly directed strip nailing surface of considerable width intermediate the sidememl bers'a 3. An all-metal composite structural member including metal side members, one of which is a structural member, a pile of metal sheets compressed together between the side members 'andties holding the side members together in-pcsition to compress the pile, sheets ot the [pile having a succession of lateral distortions engaging the adjoining sheets so that the outwardly directed edge of the compressed pile presents an openwork use bers, a pile of laterally distorted metal sheets compressed between the side members providing a Zone of nail-receiving material between the side members and ties holding the side members to place upon the pile, sheets of the pile having puncturing lateral distortions interspersed over their surfaces engaging an adjacent sheet so that the outwardly directed edge of the pile presents an openwork structure adapted to receive and hold nails.- j

6. An all-metal composite structural member including structural side members, a pile of laterally distorted metal sheets compressed between the side members and ties holding the side members to place upon the pile, sheets of the pile having each puncturing lateral distortions interspersed over the sheet surface extending toward one of the side members and other puncturing lateral distortions interspersed among the said first distortions extending toward the other side member. Y e i 7 An all-metal composite structural member including structural side members, a pile of metal sheets compressed between the side,

members and ties holding the side members to place upon the pile, alternate sheets of the pile having lateral puncturing distortions interspersed over their surfaces, lateral distor` tions toward one side being interspersed with lateral distortions toward the other side, so that the outwardly directed edge of the compressed pile presents an openwork structure adapted to receive and hold nails.

8. A composite all-metal structural member including a stud for the framework of a wall and including side pieces to present their Y edges to the inner side of a wall, a compressed all-metal resilient metal openwork filler-y intermediate the side pieces along the edges thereof that are to lie adjacent the wall and ties fastening thepside pieces to place against the filler, the outwardly directed surfaces of the filler presenting across and alongy the outer surface a succession of layers of inwardly directed passages, said passages being adapted to receive nails by a resilient distortion of the liller.

9. A- filler material for insertion between stiifening structural members comprising a succession of plates, each having lateral puncturing distortions interspersed over its surface in opposite directions, the lateral discontinuous puncturing distortions in"oneV direction being interspersed between the lateral puncturing distortionsin the other direction.

10. A filler material for insertion between stiffening structural members comprising lateral puncturing distortions interspersed over its surface that includes discontinuous puncturing Idistortionsin two directions, the

puncturing distortions in one` direction being l and substantially plane plates intermediate the punctured distorted plates.

11. In a composite wall spaced angles having parallel sidesof the angles, filler material of openwork metal between the sides and la tie fastening the angles providing a plurality of parallel planes of nail-receiving capability upon the fillermaterial. y

12.1An all-metal composite j member adapted to receive and hold nails along opposite sides and comprising side members presenting edges along the planes structural of the nailing faces and resilient openwork l senting their widths transversely across thel thickness of the wall, filler material com` pressed between the side members, tie members holding the side members together upon the filler material so that the filler material presents nailing surfaces upon opposite sides of the width of the composite stud member, flanges extending from the outer structural member toward the wall end on opposite sides of the width of said outer member, expanded I filler material upon the inside faces of the flanges and metal means clamping thev filler material to place so that the filler material presents nailing surfaces transverse to the wall for nailing an end finishing memberto the composite stud memberat the'end of the wall. f

14. A` composite structural stud member for use in a partition wall and comprising .vertically extending structural members presenting their widths transversely across the thickness of the wall, channel members intermediate the structural members, one at each side of the composite member intermediate the side members, openwork metal ller intermediate the channels and the side members and means tying the members together upon the filler so that the filler presents nailing surfaces at opposite sides of the channel adjacent the side members upon each side of the composite member.

15. A metal composite structural member 'including a spaced pair of metal side members, resilient metal filler comprising many layers of `alternating plain and resilient corrugated material held between the side members and ties between the side members holding them in position relatively to each other, the filler presenting an outward nailreceiving surface.

A composite structural member comprismg side metal members and an intermedif.

ate iller exposed at the edge of the side members and made up of substantially parallell'y plates having projections between the plates and providing a zone of parallel spaces between the plates all of which spaces are adapted to receive and hold nails.

V 17. A receiving strip for nails comprising a plurality of spaced flat plates resilient corf rugated metal sheets between the plates and on opposite sides of intervening plates and side supporting means for clamping the plates together to expose an edge zone for nailing purposes providing a plurality of parallel nailing paths. Y

HERMAN E. EICHNER. 

